Friends, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health problem worldwide. Figures from the United States show that there are approximately 26 million adults with CKD in the United States (13%), and this number is expected to continue to grow. CKD has a serious impact on people’s health. Therefore, let’s take action on the occasion of World Kidney Day to know our kidneys and protect our kidneys! Every day our kidneys are working hard, please love them! Some things can only be cherished if you understand them. March 12 – World Kidney Day is coming up, let’s learn about two organs that work hard in our body – kidneys! Healthy kidneys do the following important work every day: 1. They filter 200 liters of blood every day to form about 2 liters of urine, excreting toxins, waste and water; 2. They regulate the balance of water in the body; 3. They participate in blood pressure regulation by regulating water balance and secreting hormones involved in vasoconstriction; 4. The kidneys are the place where vitamin D lives, so they are important for bone health; 5. They produce erythropoietin The kidneys are important for bone health; 5, produce erythropoietin, thus promoting bone marrow hematopoiesis; 6, maintain the balance of minerals in the blood; 7, maintain the balance of electrolytes; 8, maintain the acid-base balance in the body; 9, remove drugs from the blood; 10, reabsorb some important nutrients When the kidney function is impaired, the above work cannot be done well, and the impact on the body is huge. Recently, the nationwide KEEP study (Kidney Early Evaluation Program) from the NKF showed that the rate of premature heart attack, stroke and death multiplied in CKD patients (young, middle-aged and old). In addition to this, CKD can lead to hypertension, bone disease, malnutrition, neurological damage, anemia and kidney failure. Happily, it has now been proven that simple urine and blood tests can screen for patients with CKD. Early diagnosis allows patients to be treated early and slows the progression of kidney function. However, most patients with CKD have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, and if they wait until symptoms appear, they may have progressed to a more advanced stage. Therefore, it is important to perform timely screening to detect CKD. So who should be screened for kidney disease? Epidemiological studies show that diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, family history of kidney disease and old age (over 60 years old) are the main risk factors for CKD. other risk factors for CKD are: obesity, autoimmune diseases, low birth weight, chronic urinary tract infections, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), etc. Therefore, people with these risk factors should go to the hospital for relevant examinations. In addition, some symptoms can also give us a hint to visit the hospital: fatigue, weakness difficulty in urination, painful urination foamy urine pink or darkened (suggesting hematuria) puffy eyelids edema of the face, hands, abdomen, ankles and feet thirst increased frequency of urination (especially at night) The doctor may perform the following tests depending on the situation: 1. Measure blood pressure. Because high blood pressure can damage the small arteries of the kidney (such as the glomerulus), it is a major cause of kidney failure. For the general population, blood pressure should be below 140/90mmHg, for CKD patients it should be below 130/80mmHg and preferably below 120/80mmHg. 2. Urine protein: The presence of trace amounts of albumin in the urine is an early sign of CKD. The persistent presence of albumin or other proteins in the urine indicates kidney damage. The urine albumin/creatinine ratio should be less than 30mg/g in normal people. 3. Blood creatinine: Healthy kidneys filter creatinine (a waste product of muscle metabolism). When kidney function decreases, blood creatinine rises. Normal blood creatinine is 0.6-1.2 mg/dl. 4.Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): It is the most sensitive and accurate indicator to evaluate kidney function. Doctors can use a formula to calculate it, the data that need to be substituted into the formula are: blood creatinine, age, race, gender. gfr should preferably be greater than 90 ml/min/1.73m2. 60-89 should be monitored. Below 60 for more than 3 months indicates CKD. What should I do if the test indicates CKD? First, schedule a review at another time. The doctor will follow up or perform further tests depending on the case. Can CKD be cured? In general, it cannot. However, certain treatments can be used to slow down the process. CKD diagnosed at a later stage is often difficult to reverse. Therefore, early diagnosis of the disease is emphasized. For healthy people, what should be done to prevent the occurrence of CKD? Experts suggest: regular exercise, low salt diet, weight control, monitoring blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar, not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs and herbal medicines containing aristolochic acid (e.g. Gentian Liver Pill, Care Suhe Pill, etc.), and annual medical checkup. Please love our kidneys! Learn about kidney diseases and do your best to prevent and treat them.